Medication for Alcohol Addiction

According to a 2007 study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 21 percent of current American drinkers had five or more drinks on at least one day in the past year. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), three medications are available for alcohol addiction. These medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Naltrexone

• Naltrexone lowers the probability of relapsing to heavy drinking. It works well for some, but not all patients. According to NIDA, this could be because of hereditary differences.

Acamprosate

• Acamprosate reduces the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism, such as restlessness, anxiety, insomnia and depression. It works best in patients who are suffering from chronic addiction.

Disulfiram

• Disulfiram causes uncomfortable reactions, such as nausea and heart palpitations, if the patient consumes alcohol. If the alcoholic is motivated to be sober, disulfiram can be very useful.

Purpose

• The above medications may help with easing the withdrawal symptoms or cravings that can accompany alcohol addiction, but they do not address the underlying reason(s) for the addiction.

Combination Treatment

• Medications are most effective when combined with therapy, such as psychotherapy or behavior modification therapy. These treatments concentrate on exploring reasons for the addiction and helping the addict change his or her thoughts and behavioral patterns.